OSAKA - A growing number of Chinese families are moving to Japan to escape their country's fiercely competitive education system, attracted by a more relaxed learning environment and better quality of life, as Japan's foreign resident population reaches a record 4.28 million and universities report a sharp increase in Chinese students seeking to build their futures in the country.
Figures released by the Ministry of Justice in October showed that the number of foreign residents in Japan had reached an all-time high of 4.28 million. While employment and business opportunities have traditionally driven migration, education is becoming an increasingly important reason for Chinese families to relocate, with some moving while their children are still young.
The trend, known as "educational migration," reflects growing dissatisfaction with China's intense academic competition, where students often spend much of their childhood preparing for examinations that determine their educational and career prospects.
In Osaka, the effects are becoming visible in residential neighborhoods popular with families. Shimmachi in the city's Tsurumi Ward, a relatively quiet area with convenient shopping facilities and numerous childcare centers, recorded the highest residential land prices and the largest increase in residential land values in Osaka in a recently released land price survey.
Local residents say the neighborhood has become increasingly attractive to families raising children, including a growing number of foreign residents, particularly those from other Asian countries.
A property valuation specialist involved in the land price survey suggested that foreign families seeking Japanese education for their children were contributing to rising property demand. Some Chinese parents are establishing businesses in Japan and using business manager visas to relocate with their spouses and children.
The appeal of Japan's education system is particularly evident among Chinese students who have experienced schooling in both countries.
At a tutoring school approximately one kilometer from Shimmachi, which opened in September last year, Chinese children account for a significant proportion of students. One Chinese boy, identified as Student A, moved to Japan with his parents after they established a company in the country.
Having attended a Japanese junior high school for two years, he described a striking difference between the two education systems.
"There isn't much stress in Japan. In China, I couldn't relax," he said.
In China, his daily routine began at 6 a.m., followed by a full day at school and hours of homework that sometimes continued until midnight. Since moving to Japan, he has been able to go to bed at around 9 p.m. and enjoy considerably more free time.
Such experiences reflect the pressure facing millions of Chinese students preparing for the country's university entrance examination, known as the gaokao. Approximately 12.9 million students take the examination, which is widely regarded as one of the most competitive academic tests in the world.
According to an education specialist familiar with the Chinese system, the competition can be so intense that even a score of 730 out of 750 may not be sufficient to secure admission to a relatively desirable university, depending on the circumstances.
A journalist who has extensively covered China said the country's difficult economic conditions and increasingly competitive society were encouraging families to look abroad for alternatives.
The journalist pointed to the growing popularity of the Chinese expression "run," which has evolved from a term associated with improving one's circumstances into slang for leaving China and settling overseas. The expression captures a broader desire among some Chinese families to escape domestic pressures and seek a more comfortable life elsewhere.
Japan has become an attractive destination because of its geographical proximity, living conditions and comparatively less demanding educational environment.
Although educational migration was previously concentrated among wealthy Chinese households, the trend is spreading to the middle class.
A real estate operator in Osaka's Nishinari Ward said that recent Chinese clients arriving with children were increasingly from middle-income households rather than exclusively wealthy families. Many were seeking access to Japanese schools as a way of avoiding China's demanding educational system.
The broadening demand is also changing the destinations chosen by Chinese students, with Japanese universities outside the most prestigious institutions attracting growing numbers of applicants.
At Momoyama Gakuin University in Osaka, the number of international students has roughly tripled over the past decade, with Chinese nationals accounting for approximately 90% of the total.
University officials say many Chinese students are interested not only in obtaining Japanese qualifications but also in finding employment or continuing their studies in Japan after graduation.
Japan's living environment appears to be a major attraction, with many students expressing a desire to establish long-term careers and become part of Japanese society.
The increase in Chinese enrollment is significant for universities facing the effects of Japan's declining birthrate. As the domestic population of prospective students shrinks, attracting international applicants is becoming increasingly important for maintaining enrollment.
Chinese students are expanding their presence across Japanese higher education, providing universities with an additional source of applicants while creating opportunities to attract talented graduates into the country's workforce.
However, specialists caution that the current growth in educational migration may not continue indefinitely.
An expert on the Chinese economy said demand for Japanese education would probably remain strong over the medium term but could eventually stabilize as Japan tightens residency requirements and China's own declining birthrate reduces competition for university admission.
Japan's stricter administration of residence statuses, including those used by foreign business operators, could also influence the number of families able to relocate.
At the same time, educational migration does not necessarily mean that Chinese families intend to remain permanently in Japan.
The expert highlighted another emerging Chinese expression, "an," referring to people who move on from one overseas destination to another in search of more favorable living conditions.
Some Chinese migrants may regard Japan as one stage in a broader international relocation strategy, remaining willing to move elsewhere if better economic or lifestyle opportunities arise.
The trend presents both opportunities and challenges for Japan.
An academic who teaches graduate students said many Chinese students arrive with a strong admiration for Japan and hopes of building careers in the country. A considerable number seek Japanese employment after graduation, partly because of China's high youth unemployment and concerns about its restrictive political environment.
The influx could provide Japan with educated workers at a time when its shrinking population is placing increasing pressure on businesses and universities.
However, growing demand from foreign families for homes in desirable residential areas may also contribute to higher property prices, raising concerns about affordability for existing residents.
The academic argued that government policies would need to address the effects of rising property prices while ensuring that Chinese students and professionals who want to contribute to Japan can become productive members of society.
As educational migration expands beyond China's wealthy elite, Japan faces the challenge of balancing the benefits of attracting international families and skilled workers with the pressures that population changes can place on local communities, schools and housing markets.
Source: KTV NEWS
